Updated at 10:21 a.m. on Tuesday: to include comment from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's office.

AUSTIN — After the so-called Save Chick-fil-A bill was sunk in the Texas House last week, a Senate committee on Monday quietly revived the legislation that LGBTQ advocates say perpetuates anti-gay discrimination.

"The bill as filed ensures religious beliefs are protected from discrimination. It's about the First Amendment and freedom of speech, freedom of religion — those uniquely American rights," Hughes said as he laid out his bill before a nearly empty committee room.

On Monday, the Senate waived rules to allow Hughes' bill to be heard in committee without public notice. A few minutes later, the Senate Affairs Committee convened and held a speedy public hearing on the bill with no speakers — probably because no one had notice there would be a debate. When the bill came before the House State Affairs committee last month, dozens of people spoke for and against the bill.

Later, the committee advanced the bill to the full Senate and placed it on the Senate's intent calendar for Tuesday.

Hughes’ bill would prevent the government from penalizing an individual or business for actions based on religious beliefs or moral convictions.

The Texas Freedom Network criticized the Senate and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for "ramming" through the legislation without giving people the chance to testify.

"It's appalling to hold a ghost hearing and then take a snap vote that leaves virtually no chance for anyone to tell senators how such a sweeping discrimination bill would affect individuals and families across the state," Kathy Miller, president of Texas Freedom Network, said in a statement. "The lieutenant governor is so desperate to pass a bill that shields discrimination against LGBT Texans that he no longer even pretends to care what anybody else thinks about it. But ramming this bill through doesn't change the fact that the majority of Texans oppose laws that allow the use of religion to hurt people simply because of who they are or whom they love."

Hughes could not immediately be reached for comment.

Sherry Sylvester, a spokeswoman for Patrick, who presides over the Senate, said in an email that it's not uncommon to suspend the rules to speed up bills this late in the session. She also said the language matches the House bill which had a hearing that lasted several hours.

"This is not a new bill. It's passage will strengthen our protections for religious liberty -- a priority for the Lt. Governor," she said.